How to Paint a Boring Hallway

by Mackenzie Wright

No matter how beautifully you've decorated the rooms in your house, if the transitional spaces-- the hallways-- are bland and boring, your home will look unfinished and disjointed. While a hallway may not be the most exciting place in your house, you can certainly spice it up with an attention-getting makeover. All it takes to transform your space is some paint and a little imagination.

Bold Colors

Get rid of bland with something bold. The quickest and easiest way to spice a space up is with a splash of color. Instead of unassuming neutrals like white or beige, consider painting the hallway a vibrant turquoise, warm gold or sizzling red -- depending on the color schemes of adjoining rooms. Pick a bold accent color from adjoining rooms and run with it right out into the hallway. If you're worried that painting the entire hallway a bold color will be too intense, paint a bold color from the floor to mid-way up the wall, and paint the upper parts of the wall and ceiling with a neutral shade.

Highlighting Details

If your hallway has architectural details, such as wall molding, chair rails, arches, wood beams or a recessed wall niche, use paint to highlight them. Use a different, lighter color to make the details seem to "pop". White is superior for this purpose; you can create a subtle but eye-catching look by painting the walls an off-white or light beige, then highlighting your architectural details with a bright white paint. For a more dramatic hallway, paint the walls a jewel tone color, such as sapphire blue, garnet red or emerald green, and paint the architectural details a neutral shade such as white, black, chocolate brown or charcoal gray.

Faux Painting

Faux paint treatments are an inexpensive way to achieve a rich, luxurious look. You can add some warmth and the illusion of texture by sponging or rag-rolling a tinted glaze over your wall paint. Alternatively, you can go over-the-top by making your hallway walls look like marble, granite, leather, wood, linen or sandstone. Most faux paint treatments are rather simple; pick up a guide and you can achieve them after a couple of hours of practice on some scrap wood.

Artistic Details

Consider the long expanse of wall a blank canvas and get creative with it. Paint a border along the length of the hallway. In your entry hall, paint a border consisting of the word "hello" in different languages, or use a rubber stamp to create a floral design that leads guests from one room to another. Add stenciled designs to the wall where you would have otherwise placed artwork; after the design dries, hang an empty frame around it to highlight it. Finally, go all out with a custom-designed, hand-painted mural. Instead of hanging wall art in your hallway, turn your hallway walls into art.

About the Author

Mackenzie Wright has been freelancing since 2002 in the realms of writing, painting, photography, crafts and teaching the arts. Her writing has been featured in publications such as the "Saint Petersburg Times," "South Florida Parenting Magazine" and "Home Education Magazine." She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and education.

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